Early charter school supporters believed that these independent public schools could serve as a laboratory, propelling reforms in the larger education sphere. This has proven to be easier said than done. However, there are recent signs in select cities that these early hopes are coming to fruition. With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, school districts and charter schools in 16 cities across the country have signed collaboration compacts, committing themselves to sharing best practices and leveraging each other's strengths and resources. This session will explore cities that have used these compacts to design common accountability systems for district and charter schools, including for school closure, school report cards, and charter school reauthorization.

For years, the enrollment of students with disabilities has been a lightning rod of controversy within the charter school sector. Several states have implemented a range of legislative measures intended to ensure equal access for all students, including quotas or targets for enrolling particular groups of students. This session will explore both the actions these states have taken in attempts to promote equal access, and the role of authorizers in implementing these policies and taking other actions to strengthen access to charters and the quality of services for students with disabilities in charter schools.